Nantucket Insights by Brent

Nantucket Beach Driving Permits: What to Know

Prices below are for the 2026 season, so please confirm current rates with the Town and The Trustees before you plan. Adapted from my original piece, Nantucket Beach Driving Permits, April 2026.

Driving on the sand is one of the great Nantucket experiences, and one of the easiest to get wrong. There are two separate permit systems, and a permit for one does not cover the other.

The Town beach permit

This is the permit for the Town's driving beaches, including 40th Pole, Eel Point, Nobadeer, Smith's Point, Cathcart and Low Beach. It is issued by the Town and valid January 1 through December 31.

• Nantucket-registered vehicle: $50 if purchased by May 31, then $100 from June 1.
• Off-island registered vehicle: $100 if purchased by June 30, then $150 from July 1.
• Where to buy: online through the Town's permit page, or in person at the Public Safety Facility, 4 Fairgrounds Road, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Bring your vehicle registration.

The Great Point permit

Great Point and the Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge are managed by The Trustees of Reservations, not the Town, and need their own over-sand vehicle permit. Options include a private vehicle day pass, a seasonal permit and a rental vehicle day pass. Permits are picked up at the Wauwinet Gatehouse, which opens each May. For a seasonal permit, bring your registered 4x4 so the sticker can be applied on site.

Walking out to Great Point is free. The permit applies only to vehicles. Please note that dogs are not allowed at Great Point or Coskata-Coatue from April 1 through September 15, including in vehicles.

Gear and rules to plan for

• A true 4x4. All-wheel drive does not qualify for Great Point.
• Recovery gear. Carry a shovel, jack and jack board, spare tire and tire gauge, and air your tires down to roughly 12 to 15 PSI.
• Respect the beach. Stay off dunes and grass, park above the high-water mark and follow posted speed limits. Violations can mean fines or a revoked permit.
• Access is never guaranteed. Erosion, protected species and nesting shorebirds can close sections of beach, and conditions change daily.

Renting a vehicle?

A rental vehicle must already carry the Trustees sticker to go to Great Point, so ask the rental company before you book. If you are staying in one of our vacation rentals, I am happy to point you toward the right setup for your family.

This is educational information, not an official source. Rules, closures and prices change, so please check with the Town of Nantucket and The Trustees before you go.

Keep reading: How to book a Nantucket vacation rental, Discover Nantucket and ask me a question.

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